From teen style guru to ELLE Creative Director, Joe Zee has come a long way, baby. Reinventing looks he first fell for in high school, he reminds us why ELLE's founding rules of fashion still apply

Joe's Take: Color was definitely an '80s staple, but no one championed it more brilliantly or more frequently than ELLE, as seen on the cover of our debut monthly issue. This daring new magazine almost single-handedly started the decade's color craze. Back then, even if we (that is, we fashion devotees) were still hooked on our black, we punched it up with bright or neon tones—especially if it was an excuse to add a fab accessory. Well, guess what? This fall, on the runways of YSL and Donna Karan, I saw black runway looks punctuated with the same strong purples and hot pinks I remember from early ELLEs.

Reinventing ELLE's Most Memorable Looks

Reinventing ELLE's Most Memorable Looks

Now: Fendi jacket, Carolina Amato glove

Tip: Color phobic? Layer in a few bold details: a sliver of skinny belt, a hot-hued bag, or the drama of a bright pair of gloves—accents that easily slip off when you've reached your color saturation point.